2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Sierra Leone Business Forum (SLBF) : Areas of engagement
A structure for dialogue between private sector and government:
Supporting Admin Barriers
Reforms
Private Sector Development
• Monitoring progress of reforms against targets (MTI M&E framework)
• Providing technical input on private sector priorities
• Validating and legitimising collective private sector interests and priorities
• Maintaining visibility of key issues
• Advocacy for continuing the reform agenda
• Supporting communications and public awareness of reform issues and progress
• Private sector advocacy on sectoral priorities
• Consultation on sectoral policies
• Monitoring progress of reforms against targets (MTI M&E framework)
• Coordination with SLIEPA on export development and investment promotion priorities
Private Sector Initiatives
• Advocacy for private sector priorities
(e.g. access to finance)
• Promoting visibility of small-scale entrepreneurs and their needs
• .. Others to be determined by SLBF and its members
SLBF is the private sector’s and Gov‘t’s platform for:
•Outreach, public awareness and communication
• Advocacy and consultation
• Supporting private sector’s ability to engage with government on economic policy developments
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview
• Supporting advocacy for reform within government

How SLBF will support RABI reforms and PSD
Working Groups
Steering Committee
Coordinating
Secretariat
National Coordinator
+ 2 staff
Working Groups
Group 1:
Business
Start-Up
Group 2:
Tax and Customs
Group 3:
Land, Locating and Planning
Group 4:
Investment
&Export
Promotion
PSD Strategy
Working
Groups
Issues Raised by
Private Sector:
Working Groups
Technical
Committee
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview
Technical
Committee
Technical
Committee
Technical
Committee
Technical
Committees
Technical
Committees

Coordinating secretariat
Technical
Committee
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview
Steering committee
Working groups
Executive Director
Economist &
Researcher
Admin Barr Coordinator
PSD Strategy
Coordinator
Minister Trade/Industry,
President CCISL
DFID Representative
Parliamentary Rep.
Other Government and
Private Sector Groups
Expert Consultants
Line Ministry/Agency Managers
Directly Interested Private Sector
Private Sector
Ministry/Agency
Directors
Civil Society

Objective: Assure Broad Representation of Private Sector and Relevant Government Institutions
Legislative
Committee
DFID
Minister of
Finance
Minister of
Trade/
Industry
Attorney
General
SLIEPA
Lebanese
Business
Comm’ty
Indian
Merchants
Assoc
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview
Importers
Assoc
SLCCIA
Market
Women’s
Assoc
SLAM
SLIBA
Bankers
Assoc

Removing Administrative Barriers to Investment
Objectives
Business Start-Up
•
Reducing costs of starting and doing business
• Streamlining processes
• Information storage and dissemination procedures
• Publication of regulations and procedures
Land and Locating
•
Information storage and dissemination procedures
• Land titling procedures published
• Titling system set up in
Land Office
• Establish framework for cadastre (begin pilot study)
Operations (Tax and
Customs)
•
Information storage and dissemination procedures
• Initiate study of effective tax burden
• Establish HS2002 nomenclature system
• Publication of tax and customs systems and procedures
Achievements
Business Start-Up
•
New streamlined 4step process
• Mandatory use of solicitor removed
• Exchange control permission removed
• Work & residence permits unified
Land and Locating
•
Freetown planning policy and masterplan to be completed by Q2 2007
Investment Promotion and Export Agencies
•
Restructuring SLEDIC into 2 agencies
• Legislative change to support implementation
• Establish new organisation structures and procedures
• Capacity-building/training
Operations (Tax and
Customs)
•
Advance tax payment for new businesses no longer required
• Streamlined customs processes and computerisation of customs underway
Investment Promotion and Export Agencies
•
New SLIEPA legislation in process
• Transition management and restructuring to commence Q3 2007
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Other Private Sector Development Programmes
PSD Strategy Programme: Ministry of Trade & Industry/ DFID
Policy Development
•Align sectoral and national
PSD objectives
• Develop national policy document
•Capacity strengthening for policy unit
• Consultations
• Approvals
• 3-year Implementation
Roadmap
Legal Reform
•Define legislation needs to support policy
• Detailed audit of existing commercial laws
• Programme of revision and creation of new laws
•Establish commercial courts
• Support to ongoing commercial law reforms
Priority Programmes
• National and sectoral initiatives for trade and investment promotion
• Compliance with international conventions
• Institutional reform, strengthening, capacity building
• Investment promotion conferences, other outreach
Business Culture
• Set up consultation forums with private sector groups
• Capacity building and training(government and private sector bodies)
• Communications and public awareness
• CSR promotion
• Diaspora engagement
• MTI website
Support to National Commission for Privatisation: NCP/DFID
•
2 year assistance to NCP Secretariat – advisors in power, transport, ports, water, financial services, commercial sectors.
Also communications, regulation and legal support
Supporting and Related Activities: FIAS/DFID/World Bank
• informal sector survey
• study of Diaspora investment trends
• access to finance for SMEs
• Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS)
• Intellectual Property Rights legislation
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

•
Policy Issues – Dialogues with GOSL and Development Partners
–
Legislative and Regulatory Reforms
–
Financial Sector Reforms and Capital Markets Development
•
Shared Responsibilities
–
Informing the Private Sector Strategy
–
Holding ourselves and each other accountable
–
Adapting the business culture
•
Business Issues) – Dialogues Between Each Other
–
Access to Capital (Debt and Equity investments)
–
Operational Risks
–
Talent Development and Training
–
Dispute Resolution
–
Value chain linkages
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview * Validation required

•
March 22 nd 2007 – Inaugural Steering Committee meeting
–
Familiarization, Commitment and Engagement
•
April 12 th 2007 – 2 nd Steering Committee and Informal Gathering
–
Update on Admin Barriers and other reform initiatives
–
Working groups development
–
Course setting
–
M & E Frameworks
•
May 24 th 2007 – Formal launch
–
Press event
–
Communicate progress to date and high priority areas for the future
•
August 15 th 2007 Q3 Steering Committee
–
Strategy Assessment and Execution Planning
•
September 2007- New Administration Engagement and Public
Communications
2007 03 22 SLBF Overview